Government of Canada Invests in Research on Advanced Communications Technology

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - June 12, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced an investment from the Government of Canada which will support research into advanced communications to improve public safety. The funding will contribute towards greater coordination across public safety agencies while offering smaller companies the opportunity to test their products.

University of Regina researchers, led by Dr. Yasser Morgan, will use the funding to develop and demonstrate the Public Safety Interoperability Platform (PSIP). The platform will produce an advanced radio network that public safety agencies can plug into with their individual communications systems to share information by voice, video and data. The PSIP will be the critical linking mechanism between the existing communications systems, which currently are often incompatible with each other. The PSIP will also serve as a testbed for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test new technologies for the public safety, security and wireless broadband markets.

Federal funding of more than $2.3 million for the Collaborative Centre of Justice and Safety (CCJS) at the University of Regina will be used to purchase and install hardware and configure specialized software to develop the new platform. The PSIP project is part of the University's Bridging Research and Interoperability Collaboration (BRIC) initiative.

Quick Facts

• Access to the PSIP testbed will help SMEs reduce their technology development costs and will lead to the commercialization of new technologies.
• The BRIC will be able to provide certification for the successful technologies, which will help SMEs commercialize and sell their products in the domestic and international public safety and security markets.
• The creation of a testbed will improve the flow of information between emergency responders and will facilitate the development of novel safety and communication technologies that will ultimately lead to improved communications, safer communities, and safer responders.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the importance of bringing innovative ideas to market so that we can create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. This investment will help protect our communities by improving coordination across public safety agencies while boosting the competitiveness of our technology sector."

-The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

"BRIC is expected to provide answers to key problems on the economics of public safety networks, security and access to information. The University is building capacity in this strategic area. We are focused on this important and high impact research to foster safer communities and safer environments for Canada's first responders."

-Dr. Yasser Morgan, principal investigator, University of Regina

Additional Links

-University of Regina's Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety: http://www.justiceandsafety.ca/about-the-centre

-The Bridging Research and Interoperability Collaboration (BRIC): http://www.justiceandsafety.ca/centre-initiatives/national-public-safety-interoperability-laboratory-npsil

-University of Regina: www.uregina.ca

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